Senegal Agroforestry
About
In Senegal, the conventional crop intensification model has proven inadequate, jeopardizing livelihoods, degrading soils, contributing to biodiversity loss, and aggravating the effects of climate change. Peanut monocropping has led to adverse environmental and economic impacts. Despite successful past management, the Ndankou and Patte Forests face threats such as encroaching peanut farming and reduced forest cover.
The importance of this project:
The Senegal program seeks to restore as much of the 30,000 hectares of degraded land surrounding the forests as possible, starting with 6,000 farming families, with one hectare each. By rehabilitating degraded lands, implementing sustainable practices, and fostering community ownership, the program aims to contribute to the long-term richness and sustainability of the Gambia River Watershed.
60,000+ 🌳
trees will be planted.
23+ 🌳
hectares of forests will reforested.
1,200+ 👩🌾👨🌾
hours of local work are being invested.
30% 👍
more productive than one-crop systems over 10 years.
Impacts & Benefits:
- Agroforestry offers significant advantages for women by diversifying income sources and enhancing food security
- Unlike monocropping, agroforestry allows women to produce a range of high-value crops—such as honey, fruits, and vegetables—that they can sell locally and regionally
- This diversified income stream builds resilience against economic shocks and restores ecosystems
- Agroforestry contributes to nutritional security and improves community health through diverse, locally grown food
- Agroforestry enhances biodiversity, improves soil health, and increases crop yields while sequestering carbon and reducing erosion
- It provides farmers with diverse income streams, promoting environmental sustainability and economic resilience in rural communities